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Glasgow City Council

Scottish Parliamentary Election

The Scottish Parliamentary Elections is due to take place on Thursday 6 May 2021.

New legislation was introduced on 3 August 2020 which extended the voting franchise in Scotland. You can vote in this election if you are:

  • 16 or over
  • living in Scotland
  • a British or Irish citizen
  • a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national who has leave to enter and remain in the UK or does not require such leave
  • not legally excluded from voting

The deadline to register to vote for this election is Monday 19 April 2021.  Click here if you need to register to vote.

Voting methods

In Person: If you are registered to vote you will automatically vote in person at the polling place on the day of the election unless you have applied to vote by post or proxy.

Polling Stations will be open and following all public health advice with appropriate hygiene and physical distancing measures in place.

 

By Post: You must complete a separate application to vote by post which requires your personal identifiers: signature and date of birth which are used to verify your vote.  A postal ballot pack will be posted to you in advance of the election and must be returned by the day of the election.  You must provide your personal identifiers on your postal ballot statement.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote for this election is 5pm Tuesday 6 April. 

If you are thinking about voting by post due to the current Covid pandemic please ensure your application is received no later than the deadline 5pm Tuesday 6 April.  It would be helpful if you could apply as soon as possible and well in advance of this deadline.

If you have a postal vote in place and you no longer want to vote by post, you have until 5pm Tuesday 20 April to contact the electoral registration office to request a cancellation.

 

By Proxy: is where you nominate someone you trust to vote on your behalf at your designated polling station.  The person you appoint as your proxy must be a registered elector, qualify to vote in this election and they can only act as a proxy for 2 people other than close relatives.

You need a reason to vote by proxy.  The are 2 categories for voting by proxy:

  • For a specific election: You are unable to attend the polling station on the day of an election.
  • Long term proxy: for reasons of work, education, or disability.

 

The deadline for new proxy vote applications is 5pm Tuesday 27 April.

The deadline to amend or cancel an existing proxy vote is 5pm Tuesday 20 April.

 

By Postal Proxy: if your nominated proxy is unable to attend your designated polling station on the day of the election, they can apply to vote by post on your behalf.  Your proxy will receive the postal ballot pack and they will complete the postal ballot pack.

You have to appoint your proxy first and have this in place before your nominated proxy can apply for a postal vote.

The deadline to apply for a postal proxy vote for this election is 5pm Tuesday 6 April. 

 

Applications forms

Here are the proxy application forms. Please click to download

If you are unable to print the form please phone our office on 0141 287 4444 or click here to email us and request an application is posted to you. 

How to return postal & proxy application forms

Completed application forms can be returned using the following - 

  • Post - Electoral Registration Office, Glasgow City Council, PO Box 15311, Glasgow, G4 7DL
  • Email - sent as an attachment to an email to voters.roll@fs.glasgow.gov.uk

Please ensure your completed application is returned by the relevant deadline.

If you do not have time to return your application by post you can hand deliver this to the letter box at 45 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1JE. Please note this office is not open for electoral enquiries, it is for use of the letter box only.

Emergency Proxy Vote

If after 5pm Tuesday 27 April you find out cannot attend the polling station on the day of the election you can apply for an emergency proxy vote in the following circumstances:

Important information: This form can be used if you are unable to attend the polling station on the day of the election.  It can also be used if your nominated proxy is self-isolating and you need to appoint a new proxy to vote on your behalf.

If you are able to print an application form, completed forms can be returned by email to voters.roll@fs.glasgow.gov.uk 

If you are unable to download and print an application form please phone our office on 0141 287 4444 to arrange for a form to be posted or where applicable an appointment can be made to attend our office. 

Applications can be made until 5pm Thursday 6 May (election day).

If you need any assistance to apply for an emergency proxy please contact the Electoral Registration Office on 0141 287 4444.

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